Washington: NASA on Saturday unveiled stunning and detailed images of the Pillars of Creation within the Eagle Nebula. These awe-inspiring images were captured by the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) back in 2014.
The Eagle Nebula's Pillars of Creation, located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens, have long been a subject of fascination for astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. The newly released infrared light image, taken by the JWST, provides a fresh perspective on this iconic celestial formation.
The Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) allows astronomers to peer through the gas and dust surrounding the pillars, unveiling a breathtaking view of countless stars hidden behind the nebula and pillars. The dusty blue haze surrounding the pillars is a result of intense ultraviolet radiation emitted by a cluster of young stars, which will eventually dissipate into space. The infrared wavelengths also enable scientists to observe the emergence of the next generation of stars.
The image of the Eagle Nebula showcases the pillars penetrating through dust and gas, offering a sight that is otherwise invisible to the naked human eye.
Situated within the vast expanse of the Eagle Nebula, approximately 6,500 light-years away, the Pillars of Creation have captured the imagination of astronomers since their first discovery. NASA's Hubble Telescope initially captured this awe-inspiring phenomenon in 1995 and revisited it with additional images in 2014.
"The entire frame is peppered with glittering bright stars. At the center of the image, the outline of three pillars extends upward, surrounded by a blue haze. Black dust and clumps are visible at the center bottom of the image," NASA described while detailing the image.
In a separate recent revelation, NASA also shared a stunning photograph of the "Necklace Nebula," which was formed by a pair of tightly orbiting Sun-like stars. The breathtaking "cosmic necklace," woven from the stardust of nebulae, adds to the ever-growing collection of celestial images captured by NASA's advanced space telescopes.